Religious speeches not part of graduation (October 1, 2018)

A Pennsylvania high school will take further measures to ensure religious speeches are no longer part of graduation ceremonies or other school-sponsored events, thanks to an FFRF letter of complaint.

FFRF Staff Attorney Madeline Ziegler sent a letter to the district first in July, then again in September, calling attention to a complaint from a district resident who attended the 2018 Kiski Area High School graduation and reported that the ceremony included a prayer led by Josh Westurn of the Kiski Area Youth Network (KAYN). KAYN’s mission is “Connecting Kiski Area Students to Christ, Church, and Community.”

FFRF received a response letter from the district’s superintendent on Oct. 1 ensuring FFRF that the district will be “taking steps to vet and analyze the graduation speakers and to ensure that religious rituals are not part of the graduation ceremonies or any other school-sponsored events.”